UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland believes a fight between him and Johnny Eblen is inevitable.
Strickland (31-7 MMA, 18-7 UFC) upset Khamzat Chimaev to become a two-time 185-pound champion at UFC 328 in May. He continuously touts one of his main training partners at Xtreme Couture, Eblen, as one of the best fighters in the world and expects their paths to cross some day.
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Eblen (17-1) is currently a PFL fighter and will look to reclaim his belt after suffering a come-from-behind submission loss to Costello van Steenis at PFL Africa 1 last July.
“First session done with Johnny, this guy is a savage,” Strickland said on his Instagram story (h/t Championship Rounds). “This guy is going to win the belt, he’s going to the UFC, he’s going to get one fight, and then we’re going to fight for the belt. And I don’t know who’s going to f*cking win, but we’re going to f*cking fight.”
Eblen was slated to things back with van Steenis (18-3) in the main event of PFL Austin on July 18 at Moody Center in Austin, Texas, but he’ll instead meet Impa Kasanganay for the interim title after van Steenis withdrew because of an injury.
“It’s going to be fun,” Eblen responded.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC champ Sean Strickland predicts unlikely future title matchup
